Adobe Photoshop CC Has Already Been Pirated In Just One Day

With all the recent discussion about Adobe's Creative Cloud model and the polarizing opinions surrounding it, one of the topics people have been mentioning is how it will stop the pirating of Photoshop and other Adobe products in the suite. Some felt that many people were just upset with the model because it could no longer be pirated by those who did not pay.

Now that Photoshop Creative Cloud went live just the other day, we didn't know what to expect. However, news is out that just a day after the release, Photoshop CC has already been pirated and available. Although we do not condone piracy, we're shocked to see that it was that easy to circumvent the new model. The reason is how CC works, “An Internet connection is required the first time you install and license your desktop apps, but you can use the apps in offline mode with a valid software license. The desktop apps will attempt to validate your software licenses every 30 days.”

With the constant need for validation and continual updates through the cloud, many felt it would be difficult to pirate something that requires constant contact for it to stay updated. However, it took no less than a day for pirates to get around it.

We're not engineers by any means, however you would think that any means of pirating the software would have been cross checked so it would not be possible this time around. Considering Photoshop is one of the most pirated software in the world, is it by design that makes it so hard to stop? We'd like to hear your thoughts.

If them charging money for a product they created is "bleeding people dry," then what would you consider someone stealing their livelihood and giving it away for free? Personally, I like, "Cutting out their still-beating-heart and sacrificing them, Aztec style."

That's not adobe's fault, that's global economies. I'm sorry, did you honestly say you were mad that they aren't "charging on a level playing field"????? REALLY?!?!!! You know what happens if I charge 1billion dollars for a head shot? No one bitches about me not charging on a "level playing field." They would simply laugh and take their money elsewhere. Your argument implies that you have the RIGHT to their products at what you have deemed a reasonable price. In that case, I think I have the right to all your gear, and I think a fair price is $3. Do you want a used McDonald's Gift card, or would you prefer that in quarters I found in my sofa?

Adobe issued a statement on this. They had to charge more in Australia because not as many people were buying that, and they still had to maintain a certain profit margin. As more people bought it, they could afford to bring the price down, and it's now on par with the US

Because I actually have an understanding of businesses models which incorporate international expansion.

Why would they charge exorbitant prices in other market's unless they absolutely have to? Clearly there's a huge backlash, and all of the countries are gong to file injunctions just as the did in Australia. Plus, charging higher prices makes their product less available, and greatly increases the likelihood of it being pirated. If their going to make the same amount of money selling it to a few people at a high price, or more people at a lower price, wouldn't they prefer more people, to increase the popularity of their product? 75% of the consumer market is based outside of the US, so they aren't just blowing off 3/4 of their consumers! It all goes back to demand. They have to make a certain amount of money in order to stay in business in a country. The argument that it's a product delivered over the internet, so it should be the same price everywhere is mistaken in that adobe actually sets up shop all over the globe. They have massive corporate offices, hundreds of employees working on everything from product development to ad campaigns. They have to change how they market the product in different countries according to the state of the market in different countries. They HAVE to meet a certain profit margin in order to stay in business in that country. Basic rules of business state that if there is not a high demand for a product in a certain area, then the price of the product will be higher, in order to maintain their profit margin, and support all of their employees in that country. If demand increases, then they can afford to bring the prices down, which they did.

So yes, I do believe that. As for falling down an elevator shaft/ walking off a cliff, I always keep a substancial amount of bubble wrap with me at all times. I'd be more than happy to get you in touch with my supplier, if you're having that same problem, as your inherent lack of awareness suggests. :)

Logic and common sense? You literally just laughed at me and insulted me, and failed to address the list of facts and logic i presented to you. So I think your a wee bit confused about who logic and facts are lost upon :)

They don't force you to do ANYTHING ... you buy of you want.
They CREATE the desire on you to have the latest version, but you don't need anything more than a PS7 to treat your images ... well ... "treat" ... I know a bunch of photographers that are using LR now ...

If 20/month for software is "bleeding you dry" as a professional photographer, you are doing something wrong. That is like 5$ more than WoW, an old game people play for fun! And here there are people complaining about 20$, seriously? If you are a hobbyist, what makes you think professional software should be priced to your demands? "Wahhh I need a calculator but Matlab is like 12 000$, how dare they!?"

Naive people believe all sorts of things. Just wait for the first price increase and enjoy watching these same people trying to justify how awesome it is to pay more per month for the exact same thing.

You dont seem to understand, they don't just COLLECT the money from you, you have to pay it willingly. If they charge too much, then everyone will just pirate their software, and they'll go out of business. So it is in THEIR BEST INTEREST to keep the price low enough to maintain their current customer base, and therefore, their profit margin. Unless they want to commit financial suicide, they will keep it at this price. The fact that they went to this method with this pricing, shows there are enough customers that are satisfied with this model, most likely hard working, SUCCESSFUL PROFESSIONALS, who are too busy being good at their jobs to comment on forums like these. If you think they just went to this without any focus group testing or surveying their target market, then you're in denial.

Making money, and making people's lives easier. Thats what business is about, and thats what Adobe is doing, unless someone really wants to argue that photoshop HASN'T made our lives a billion times easier...

Got any statistics to back that up? I cut open a vein and paid for my copy. People using my images without permission is a negative on my P&amp;L. How many of these people who steal it are running successful photography businesses?

YOU would also be VERY VERY surprised how many AREN'T stealing. Most REAL professionals are able to see the similarity between stealing this product, and stealing someone's images. I know a huge amount of real professionals that are absolutely appalled by how many so called "pros" in our industry don't see how morally wrong this is.
And saying that Adobe makes too much money off of us doesn't justify it either. Chase Jarvis makes a ton of money from his work, does that mean people should be able to steal it?

Excellent point! It is perhaps the lack of perspective in an American culture. Any one who says, "there is a certain point where a company gets big enough or makes enough profit to where it then becomes 'OK' " for that individual to pirate there product is drawing a shaky (if not unrealistic) line. We've seen the argument play out with music. People say it's OK for them to download music because the artist will make enough money off of shows, when in reality, making up your own rules doesn't change right &amp; wrong.

I agree with you, but I fail to see how this is purely an American cultural issue??? Piracy is abundant all over the world, especially in poorer countries. Plenty of posts here defending piracy are from other countries! The tendency towards piracy is completely global and your completely ignorant if you think you can blame this on American culture.

Whoah buddy no need to get offensive. Perhaps I should have explained why I said "American". I'm only commenting on American culture because it's the only one I've lived in, therefore the only one I have any sort of right to speak (write) on. Even though this is a "human" issue and not just an "american" issue, wouldn't it be more ignorant to comment on other cultures I have little to no experience in?

You're right, I apologize. Quite a few people have been taking shots at me and Americans during this discussion and I assumed you were one of them. I completely agree that people should only be commenting on the cultures that they are familiar with, as you were doing. Proceed, good sir.